The Amityville Horror

To talk about this movie, one doesn’t have to comment on or speculate about the supposed true story aspect. However, it does make for an interesting blog.

On Wednesday, November 14, 1974 in the small town of Amityville, Long Island. Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family as they slept in their beds. You can find the facts on the case just about anywhere on the Internet. What you will also find as you search for those facts is an exuberant amount of information about the Lutz family as well.

George and Kathleen Lutz moved into 112 Ocean Avenue (the scene of the aforementioned murders) the summer of 1975. About 28 days after moving in, they fled the house telling tales of supernatural occurrences and demonic possession. The facts of this haunting remain controversial to this date. In an industrious search, you will find countless websites dedicated to the Amityville Horror, Truth and/or Hoax.

The movie is based on the 1977 novel by Jay Anson titled “The Amityville Horror - A True Story” which is the story of the happenings in the haunted house as it was related by the Lutz family. What followed in 1979 was the now classic horror movie “The Amityville Horror”. The movie shows how George Lutz (played by James Brolin) and his wife Kathleen (Played by Margot Kidder) decide to buy a new house that was previously the scene of the brutal murders. Evil spirits from the previous owners fill the walls of the house. As time progresses, the Lutz family encounters strange and bizarre events that cannot be reasonably explained.

The spirits inside the house have the ability to open windows, close doors, and turn off the lights. In addition, the spirits begin to work their way into the minds of the Lutz family. Amy Lutz (Natasha Ryan), the daughter of George and Kathleen, is able to see one spirit and adopts is as her imaginary friend. There are great special effects from simple shadows and noises to bleeding walls. Director Stuart Rosenberg implements the use of lighting and shadows beautifully in this film to capture the essence of things not seen. The majority of the day scenes are matched to fit the relaxing, bright mood of a new family house. The dark night scenes are the ones that create and develop the feelings of terror.

So whether you believe in ghosts and demons, whether you buy into the story of the Lutz family as fact, or whether you think this is simply another work of fiction, the movie is a great horror film to pop into the DVD player for Halloween!

• Today's Cure song is "A Strange Day" from the Pornography CD - (1982) A somber tune quoted by Robert as "how i would feel if it would only be the end of the world". It has a very light beginning that builds to a softly pounding drum with a keyboard drifting over as Robert sings. The song grows stronger crescendoing with fantastic guitar chords that tug at your soul.

"My head falls back and the walls crash down. And the sky, and the impossible explode. Held for one moment I remember a song. An impression of sound, then everything is gone Forever "

CJ